Um Mês

One month. Um mês. It has gone way too fast. I am 1/12th of the way done with my year in Brasil.

I remember when I first found out about a Rotary meeting regarding becoming a year long exchange student, I wanted to go so bad. Traveling is my dream. Unfortunately, I had a volleyball game. Luckily, I have an AMAZING mother that went in my place, took notes, and set up an interview for me! A few days after the interview, I found out the the Appleton Downtown Rotary club chose me to be their 2013-2014 Rotary Youth Exchange student, and I was ecstatic. Soon after came the October conference, the intense application and the book reports. Then, in January, I was told I would be going to Brasil. After that point, each day was longer and longer and it felt like I would never go. Now that I am here, I want time to STOP GOING SO FAST. Each day feels like a minute. It feels like I got here only days ago. Wow.

Every day here is a blessing. Brasil is amazing. Portuguese is so beautiful, and I am learning new words and phrases every day.

In this month, I have grown more as a person than I have in the past few years. I know that I have gained self-confidence, self-respect and a lot of independence. I have also gained what a lot of people lack, and that is cultural awareness and respect, which I think that is the most important thing to have in your life. It is so amazing to be able to spend a year in a completely different country and culture than your own.

Thank you to everybody who made this possible. It is the best thing that I have ever done in my life, and it has already changed my life. I can't wait to see what the next 11 months have in store for me!!